[Oasfaa] FW: Legislative Update – March 6, 2015

[Fair, Bryce]

Below is the state legislative update for this week.

HB 2180 by House Speaker Jeffrey Hickman, which would require certain OKPromise students to complete 30 college credit hours per year, passed the House floor yesterday, March 5.  In the description of the bill below, I’ve added some links to the video recording of the floor discussion, the roll call of votes on the bill, and Speaker Hickman’s press release about the bill.

To find more details on any bill, go to http://www.oklegislature.gov/BasicSearchForm.aspx and type in the number of the bill.

Bryce Fair


The update below reflects the current status of major legislation concerning Higher Education during the week of March 2, 2015 – March 6, 2015.

If you have any questions, please contact Hollye Hunt at hhunt at osrhe.edu<mailto:hhunt at osrhe.edu> or 405.225.9424.

Legislative Report
March 6, 2015

Appropriations and Budget

HB 1174// Representative Earl Sears// The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education appropriations shell bill.
UPDATE:  The bill has been referred to the House Appropriations Committee.


OKPromise

HB 2180 // Representative Jeff Hickman // The legislation requires that OKPromise students enroll in a minimum of thirty (30) credit hours per academic year [The current version of the bill as passed on the House floor requires students enrolled at four-year institutions to complete 30 credit hours per year, unless the student qualifies for one of 8 listed exemptions.  Students enrolled exclusively at a two-year institution are exempted from the requirement.]  The legislation also extends the application eligibility to the end of a high school student’s 11th grade year.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House on March 5, 2015 by a vote of 72-10 [Note on the votes – The bill itself passed by a 72-10 vote.  The bill also has an “emergency” clause, but the emergency clause requires a 2/3 vote (68 ayes of the House’s 101 members) to pass.  The “emergency” clause failed on a 64-16 vote.  The “emergency” clause allows a bill to become effective either immediately upon signature of the Governor or at a date identified in the bill (July 1 for this bill) sooner than 90 days following the end of session.  Without an “emergency” clause, a bill cannot become effective until 90 days following the end of session (which usually falls towards the end of August, depending on when the Legislature adjourns).  Don’t you love these arcane legislative rules.

Video recording of the floor discussion of the bill (it’s about 25 minutes long; click on HB2180 at  http://okhouse.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=57&clip_id=1655 )
Note on floor discussion – There is some discussion about how OKPromise pays for student’s subject to flat-rate tuition pricing (for example, paying one price for 12-18 credit hours).  Four public institutions now have flat-rate tuition pricing.  One of those institutions (Oklahoma State University) exempts all OKPromise students from the flat-rate tuition policy and continues to charge OKPromise students on a per credit hour basis.  The other three institutions (University of Oklahoma, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, and Langston University) have written agreements with the OKPromise program that requires the institutions to refund to OKPromise any award amount that ultimately exceeds the total number of credit hours in which students actually enroll during the full academic year (this holds the OKPromise program financially harmless if total award amount paid to the institution exceeds the amount that would have been award if billed per credit hour).

Floor roll call votes on the bill: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2015-16%20SUPPORT%20DOCUMENTS/votes/House/HB2180_VOTES.HTM
Link to press release by Rep. Hickman about the passage of the bill on the House floor: http://www.okhouse.gov/Media/News_Story.aspx?NewsID=5009
More information on the bill: http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb2180&Session=1500



SB 137 // Senator Corey Brooks //  The legislation directs the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to develop an appeals process for students who have been denied participation in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program. The legislation also eliminates disability compensation in determining financial qualification for the program.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee on February 16, 2015 and passed out the Senate Appropriations Committee on February 25, 2015.

SB 177 // Senator Jim Halligan // The legislation increases the income eligibility for the OKPromise scholarship to $55,000 adjusted gross income.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee on February 9, 2015 and passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee on February 25, 2015.

SB 504 // Senator Clark Jolley // The legislation allows the OKPromise scholarship to be used to attend a nonprofit university that offers online, competency-based degree programs and is accredited.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee on February 9, 2015 and passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee on February 18, 2015.

HB 1848 // Representative Scott Inman // The legislation expands eligibility for the OKPromise program to include students in the permanent custody of the Department of Human Services (DHS). The student is exempt from meeting all other high school eligibility criteria. The contact person for OHLAP is responsible for identifying students who are in the permanent custody of DHS and providing those names to the State Regents.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House on March 2, 2015 by a vote of 91-4.

HB 1672 // Representative Kouplen // The legislation expands eligibility for the OKPromise program to include students in the permanent custody of the Department of Human Services (DHS). The student is exempt from meeting all other high school eligibility criteria.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House on March 2, 2015 by a vote of 87-6.


Weapons on Campus/Campus Security

No pending legislation.


Scholarships

HB 2040 // Representative George Young // The legislation encourages the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to use appropriations in order to support entrepreneurship with special emphasis upon providing such support to minority communities in the state.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Higher Education and Career Technology Committee on February 18, 2015.

SB 404 // Senator John Ford // The legislation creates the Oklahoma Career Promise Act.  A student may receive a scholarship for tuition and fees in certain critical industry certifications designated by the Department of Commerce.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee on February 16, 2015 and passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee on February 25, 2015.


Endowed Chairs

HB 1732 // Representative Sean Roberts // The legislation expands and allows funds from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Fund to be used for expenses incurred by any institution governed by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to endow chairs relating to research, treatment and prevention of cancer.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Health on February 16, 2015.


Academic

HCR 1002 // Representative Dan Fisher // The concurrent resolution urges the College Board to change the Advanced Placement United States History course framework and examination. The resolution also directs the State Board of Education not to award grants or expend certain money for any Advanced Placement United States History course or examination until certain conditions are met.
UPATE:  The House Concurrent Resolution was introduced on February 2, 2015.

HB 1380 //  Representative Dan Fisher // The legislation directs the State Department of Education to identify and adopt a U.S. History program and corresponding test to offer in lieu of the AP U.S. History course and test by the 2015-2016 school year. The measure specifies numerous foundational and historical documents that must be included in any U.S. History course offered in schools. Additionally, the State Board of Education is prohibited from awarding any grants to school districts, or making any expenditure of state funds as authorized, for equipment, instructional materials, course development, professional development or training, examination awards or examination scholarship for the AP U.S. History course until the course reverts back to the framework and examination in place prior to the 2014-2015 school year.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Common Education Committee on February 16, 2015.

SB 414 // Senator Rick Brinkley // The legislation lists the independent, not-for-profit institutions that are eligible for the Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee on February 23, 2015 and passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee on February 25, 2015.

HB 2081 // Representative Jason Nelson //  The legislation directs the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to establish a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities, which shall be offered by institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House on March 5, 2015 by a vote of 78-0.


Task Force/ Advisory Committees

No pending legislation.


Telecommunications

No pending legislation.


Accreditation

No pending legislation.


Shell Bills

No pending legislation.


State Ballot Questions

HJR 1009 // Representative Dan Fisher // The ballot question would affirm the second amendment as a fundamental right.  Regulations by the state on the right to keep and bear arms would be subject to strict scrutiny.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House Rules Committee on February 18, 2015.


Retirement

SB 405 // Senator Marty Quinn // The legislation allows an institution to contract with a retired employee for a teaching position or a research position for more than 6 semester hours or the equivalent.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate Pensions Committee on February 16, 2015.


Other

HB 1058 // Representative Dennis Casey // The legislation authorizes institutions within the State System of Higher Education to process federal tax withholding without claim forms.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House on February 19, 2015 by a vote of 92-0.

SB 612 // Senator Dan Newberry // The legislation modifies membership to the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Senate on March 5, 2015 by a vote of 38-4.

HB 1859 // Representative Harold Wright // The legislation modifies membership to the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the Economic Development, Commerce and Real Estate Committee February 19, 2015.

HB 1737 // Representative Lewis Moore //  The legislation prohibits state agencies and political subdivisions from acting upon any federal request not expressly provided for the in U.S. Constitution; prohibits state agencies and political subdivisions, or their contractors, from requesting any type of federal assistance or funding without approval of the legislature; requires state agencies and political subdivisions, or their contractors, currently receiving federal funding to deposit the money with the State Treasurer’s office and report it to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.
UPDATE:  The bill passed out of the House State and Federal Relations Committee on February 18, 2015.


Glen D. Johnson
Chancellor
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
655 Research Parkway, Suite 200
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104
405.225.9122
gjohnson at osrhe.edu<mailto:gjohnson at osrhe.edu>

[OK_RegentHigh_transparent][oklahoma-works-logo-vertical-cmyk]





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